It’s not too late to apply for this year. Nuisance alligator control hunters have until March 15 to apply for a permit under new rules adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The new protocol authorizes a permitted control hunter to contract directly with landowner or landowner’s agent (including a political subdivision, governmental entity, or property owner’s association) for a fee or other compensation for the removal of nuisance alligators.

Persons interested in the nuisance alligator hunting control program should contact Amos Cooper at 409-736-3625 (office) or 409-293-2836 (cell). Prospective permittees can also request the information by email at amos.cooper@tpwd.state.tx.us.

The new protocol requires that each nuisance control hunter complete a certification process that includes an application to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a department administered course and a test on nuisance control. Reporting requirements will ensure that only bona fide nuisance alligators are taken by permitted control hunters during and out of the normal hunting season. An annual permit fee is also required.

Prior to the new rules, the TPWD had contracted with qualified individuals for the removal of nuisance alligators. Each hunter bid for the privilege to conduct nuisance control activities in a specific territory, agreeing to pay a per foot price to the department for every alligator removed. In return, the control hunter was allowed to keep the alligator and could sell the skin and meat. All removals were authorized on a case by case basis by the department.

If you are a person experienced with alligator hunting and removal, and have some time on your hands, it may be time to apply to Texas’ nuisance alligator control permit.

So are the strict regulations surrounding alligator hunting in Florida necessary? that is exactly what state officials are asking themselves. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently authorized its staff to begin working on a package of amendments to the alligator hunting law to be presented to the state Legislature. A coordinator of the alligator management program said the review may simply streamline a statute that was probably overloaded with rules because of the sensitivity of hunting a former endangered species.

Thee hunting regulations are from a time when the alligator was just considered fully recovered and there was a lot of concern. But the regulations have been in place for over 20 years now. But when alligator numbers keep going up in the face of hunting, maybe things need to less cumbersome. Yes, the alligator hunting regulations are probably long overdue.

With that said, the American alligator appears to have stood up well in Florida. But many will suggest that the population remains too low in some regions, including possibly the Everglades. Large alligators are a keystone species that formerly dictated their environment. The tendency of hunters to go for trophy alligators has decreased the giant, 20-plus year old alligators from the Florida landscape. But the numbers are still up.

Older alligator are becoming more rare. The number of alligators is going up. Large alligators eat smaller ones.

Under Florida’s current alligator hunting program, the state establishes harvest quotas for different water bodies and regions to prevent excessive hunting in localized areas. The hunt is tightly controlled, with tags and forms required for each harvested gator. A drawing is held for permits, with more than 6,000 issued for the statewide hunt that ran from August 15 through November 1 of 2011. Selected hunters may tag up to two alligators.

Wildlife biologist estimate that there are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida swamps, rivers and lakes. That number has held steady over the past few years, but nuisance alligator complaints are up sharply over the past two decades, up 50% from 1991 to 2006. There were 18,307 nuisance alligator complains in the state of Florida in 2006.

But the state’s review of the current alligator hunting regulations may result in the removal of extra rules that aren’t applied to game animals such as white-tailed deer. And though officials may skin down the regulations, biologists state that less restrictive laws and reporting are unlikely to result in an increase or decrease in gator hunting. If the commission approves the proposals, they would go to the state Legislature in 2014. Let’s see how big of a bite they take out of the regulations.

This year, a total of six wildlife management areas (WMA) will be offering alligator hunts in Texas. The areas offering hunts are Angelina Neches/Dam B, James Daughtry WMA, Gus Engeling WMA, Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mad Island WMA and J.D. Murphree WMA. The application deadline for these hunts is August 4 and no more than three persons can be submitted on an application card. In addition, an individual’s name and social security can only appear once on an application. In short, you can only apply for a public alligator hunt at a single WMA. More than one application, even if for different properties, will get you disqualified.

The Texas fall alligator season runs from September 10-30 each year. In general, the earlier hunt dates are better than the later hunt dates because hunters get the first shot at the gators, plus cold fronts that generally roll in shortly after the hunting season kicks off can make the big reptiles a little sluggish. The first two attachments above have all of the dates for the public hunting lands. The third attachment is the application for the special hunting permit.

When hunters usually think about alligator hunting the state of South Carolina does not immediately come to mind, but this state is apparently home to some really big alligators. Well, at least there was one big alligator in South Carolina. It’s probably more like 1 less big alligator because I know the marshes and rivers out there probably have some more big reptiles that need to be tamed.

The big male alligator featured in these photos was actually harvested in 2009 in South Carolina. This big male went 14 feet in length and weighed in at a scale-stressing 1,000 pounds. Now that is a bunch of fried alligator tail and one hell of an alligator hide! I guess you know it’s a big alligator when you need a tractor with a front-end loader to pick it up.

South Carolina has a limited alligator hunting season with conservative harvest. In the United States, the American alligator is doing quite well and many states along the Gulf Coast also hunt alligator. The photos below were taken at an alligator meat processing and taxidermy in Charleston, South Carolina.

In addition to having an alligator hunting permit, any person hunting or assisting an alligator permit holder must possess a valid Alligator Hunting License in addition to a regular hunting license. A resident Alligator License is $50 and a Non-Resident License is $200. In addition, a wildlife management area (WMA) license is required if hunting on a WMA. Disability, Honorary and Lifetime License holders are exempt from these requirements.

Alligator hunters must be at least 12 years of age, but hunters age 12 to 15 do not need an Alligator Hunting License or Hunting License. However, these young hunters must possess a valid alligator permit or be with an alligator permit holder. As usual, in order to hunt unsupervised they must have a valid Hunter Education Certificate.

The legal alligator hunting methods in Georgia allow hunters to use legal alligator hunting equipment which includes hand-held ropes or snares, snatch hooks, harpoons, gigs or arrows with a restraining line attached. Legally harvested alligators must be dispatched immediately upon capture by using a handgun or bangstick, or by severing the spinal cord with a sharp knife/tool.

Alligators may be hunted in Georgia during the day or at night within one of the alligator hunting zones, but it is unlawful to hunt alligators without landowners permission. This includes any right-of-way and hunters must obtain the written permission of the landowner if the property is posted.

However, alligator hides and parts can be sold or transferred if they are tagged with either a CITES tag before being sold, transferred, bartered or given to another person. Some states even have additional validation tags they can issue to successful hunters for tracking these parts. All alligator tanneries or hide buyers will require a CITES tag in order to process or purchase an alligator hide.

Alligator parts, which includes bones, claws, skulls, and anything else other than the meat, must be permanently labeled with the your alligator harvest tag number somewhere on that part. A permanent marker can be used to write this information on a securely-fixed tag or directly on the alligator part. You will have to list either your CITES tag number and/or your documentation from the state where the gator was harvested.

It is suggested that markings on alligator skulls be written on the bottom of the part so that it is not immediately visible since it is for display, after all. If you have any questions about the handling of alligator parts and meat, do not hesitate to contact a state office. As mentioned, gator hunting is a lot of fun and a great way to control their population size, but the handling of parts after skinning an alligator is very serious. Don’t mess up!

Between May 1 to June 15 you can apply online by 11:59 p.m. on June 15 to participate in their public alligator hunting program. This starts online annually beginning on May 1 and there is no added benefit in trying to apply as early as possible. It’s a lottery systems so getting your name in the hat early will not help your chances of being selected for a hunt.

Starting in July, hunters will begin to be notified of their alligator hunt application status. Hunters that are selected will have until October 1 to purchase their permit and alligator harvest tag. You must return to the online application system and purchase your alligator tag and permit for $100.

From July through August, those selected must who will accompany you and ensure that each member of the hunting party has valid South Carolina hunting licenses. You must also decide if and which voluntary training session you and members of your hunting party will attend. Preparation is needed to ensure proper knowledge of your hunting location and possession your alligator hunting equipment.

During the Fall season, from the second Saturday in September through the second Saturday in October, you can restrain, capture, and harvest your alligator. Once harvested, immediately attach the temporary alligator harvest tag within six inches of the tip of the tail.
Complete the alligator harvest permit within 24 hours of harvest. Contact the South Carolina Alligator Program and submit your harvest report.

In October through November, if a CITES tag is needed you will have to schedule an appointment at a Department of Natural Resources Regional. Their offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. CITES validation must take place no later than October 20.

In November, both successful and unsucessful alligator hunters must submit their completed harvest report in order to participate, in any way, in the following season’s alligator hunting season. Failure to submit your alligator hunt information will prevent you from gator hunting in the future.

Alligator Hide Curing – Method 1

After an alligator has been skinned, the hide should be scraped thoroughly using a knife, a piece of metal pipe or another appropriate object until all bits of meat, fat, etc. are removed. After scraping, salt the hide with approximately one inch of white, fine grade table or mixing salt (available at most feed and seed stores). Thoroughly rub the salt into the hide, then roll the hide tightly, secure it and store it in a cool place. After 3-5 days, unroll the hide, discard the salt and repeat the salting procedure as described above. Re-roll the hide tightly and band with a one-inch rubber band or other rubber tubing. Store the rolled hide in a cool, dry place until transported for validation.

Alligator Hide Curing – Method 2

An alternative to Method One is to utilize a brine solution. Hides cured in brine solutions often remain more supple, suffer less shrinkage and are viewed as more attractive by hide graders and buyers. For these reasons, the use of a brine solution to cure an alligator hide is highly recommended.

Ingredients or Materials Needed:
50 gallon covered plastic drum
50 pounds salt
1 pint bleach (assists in keeping bacterial growth to a minimum)
25 gallons water

In order to be effective, the solution must be carefully prepared and maintained. A plastic or other non-corrosive covered container of sufficient size should be used. Heavy, 50-gallon plastic drums used for shipping produce are best, but large plastic covered garbage cans are good substitutes. The solution must remain saturated with salt. Too little salt will cause damage to a hide. Fill the 50-gallon container half-full of water, then add the salt and the bleach and mix thoroughly. After complete mixing, a 2-3 inch layer of salt should remain on the bottom.

Hides should be properly scraped and salted with a one-inch layer of salt, tightly rolled and secured with a rubber band prior to placing in the brine. When submersing a hide in the brine, it should be rotated to allow most of the air pockets to escape. If properly salted, the layer of salt in the rolled skin will act as a wick to draw the brine solution throughout the skin. The hide should be entirely submersed in the brine at all times and the container should be kept tightly covered to keep insects and airborne contaminants from entering the solution.

The hide should remain in the brine solution until sold or sent to a tannery. If you plan on selling the hide, it must be removed from the brine and entirely re-salted prior to being shipped or placed in refrigeration. The brine should be discarded and a new solution made after each use. Disposal of the salt brine should be done properly and carefully since it is harmful to plants and aquatic animal life.

American alligators are a long-lived species that can grow to large sizes and may accumulate significant amounts of mercury. Information on mercury in alligators harvested in South Carolina is quite limited, but their thinking is better safe than sorry. Information suggests that certain people may be at risk if consumption of alligator meat occurs.

After a reviewed of this alligator meat data, the Department of Natural Resources recommends that the general population eat no more than 1 meal per week that includes 8 ounces of alligator meat. In addition, it is pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children may be especially sensitive to the effects of mercury.

Although nursing mothers and young children will not head out alligator hunting, they should take caution when it comes to the consumption of alligator flesh. For these potentially sensitive segments of the population, they recommend that no more than 1 meal per month be consumed. This recommendation may be even more important if you are a frequent consumer of locally caught fish, which also may contain mercury.

For further information about alligators and the consumption of wild animals, contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Bureau of Water Division at (803) 898-4300.

This method consists of making an incision on each side of the alligator (leaving one to two rows of osteoderms or scutes along the belly side) and on the top of each leg and then removing the hide with the belly skin intact. The underside of the skull also should be skinned with the rest of the belly. The back skin of the alligator with the osteoderms or scutes in it can then be removed and discarded or kept according to your wishes. Because of the difficulty of tanning the osteoderms, the back skin is not considered very useful and most often is discarded.

The second way to skin an alligator produces a more natural looking hide but generally is more costly to tan due to the osteoderms remaining in the hide. This method is similar to skinning a deer or a hog by making an incision up the belly of the alligator and on the underside of each leg. The hide can then be removed in its entirety and saved for tanning or selling. Note: Alligator skulls and skeletal parts not discarded must be permanently marked with the alligator harvest tag number of the hide from which it was taken. This marking may be written on the palate of the mouth after preservation. The skull and skeletal parts may be kept by the selected hunter, transferred or sold. Records must be kept indicating to whom skulls and/or other skeletal parts were transferred.